MLB Player News

Montgomery (knee) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is lined up to start Friday's game against the Orioles, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Montgomery dealt with left knee inflammation after he was hit by a comebacker in Sunday's start against the Red Sox, but the team has consistently downplayed the severity of the issue. Since Wednesday's bullpen session went as planned, manager Aaron Boone said that Montgomery "should be good to go" in Baltimore on Friday. While pitching through the injury in his season debut, the southpaw allowed three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four in 3.1 innings.

The Blue Jays are planning to have Stripling make a spot start Friday against the Athletics in Toronto if he isn't needed in relief the next two days, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Stripling looks like he'll be in line for just a short-term appointment in the rotation, as the Blue Jays are looking to extend each of their five starters an extra day of rest between outings amid a busy stretch in the schedule. The right-hander last appeared out of the bullpen Sunday, when he was charged with two runs allowed on one hit and three walks over one inning in a 24-pitch outing against the Rangers. Stripling could be capped at around 40-to-50 pitches if he does in fact receive the starting assignment for Friday's series opener.

Lynn (knee) resumed playing catch off flat ground Wednesday, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Lynn noted that he's further along than anticipated in his recovery from the surgery he underwent April 5 to address a tendon tear in his right knee, but the veteran right-hander has several more hurdles to clear in his rehab program before a firmer target date for his return comes into focus. The White Sox aren't counting on him to resume mound work until early May, and from there, Lynn will likely need at least 2-to-3 weeks to build back up from a starting role. For what it's worth, general manager Rick Hahn said Tuesday that he doesn't expect Lynn to make his season debut until early June, per Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago.

Watkins allowed four runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with one strikeout in three innings in a no-decision versus the Brewers on Tuesday.

Watkins didn't get much help from the defense Tuesday, though he also committed an error that led to the Brewers' two runs in the third inning. The right-hander received the first opportunity to take Dean Kremer's (oblique) spot in the rotation, but this wasn't an encouraging performance. Keegan Akin followed Watkins as a long reliever and threw 2.2 scoreless innings, particularly notable considering he and Watkins could be competing for a starting role down the line. If Watkins gets another turn with the starting rotation, he lines up to face Oakland next week, though Alexander Wells is also an option to draw a spot start.

Lynch (0-1) was the pitcher of record in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals after giving up six runs on nine hits and a walk. He struck out seven in the 81-pitch outing.

Lynch put the Royals in an early 3-0 hole, as he served up a two-run home run to Nolan Arenado and a solo blast to Albert Pujols in the first inning. He followed up with a pair of smooth frames, but Lynch was stun by the long ball again in the bottom of the fourth, when Andrew Knizner sent a two-strike slider over the fence for a three-run blast. Lynch closed the night with a scoreless, 10-pitch fifth inning, but the damage from the home runs was too much from him to overcome.

Greinke and the Royals won't face the Cardinals on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in St. Louis, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

The two teams will make up the interleague game May 2. As a result of Wednesday's postponement, the Royals will most likely push each of their five starters back a day in the schedule. Greinke is thus expected to make his next start Thursday versus the Tigers in Kansas City.

Sandoval didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Marlins, allowing one unearned run over four innings on three hits and three walks. He struck out six.

The first outing of the season was a mixed bag for Sandoval, as the southpaw tossed only 40 of 71 pitches for strikes, and after striking out the side in the first inning, he had trouble keeping the bases clear. Sandoval faces a tougher test in his next scheduled start Tuesday, on the road in Houston.

Cortes didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Blue Jays, scattering three hits over 4.1 scoreless innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The lefty looked sharp in his first start of the season, tossing 46 of 72 pitches for strikes, but he didn't last long enough to get credit for the win despite leaving with a 3-0 lead. Cortes will look to last a little longer in his next outing, scheduled for Sunday in Baltimore.

Kikuchi (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks over 3.1 innings as the Blue Jays were downed 4-0 by the Yankees. He struck out two.

The southpaw got little help from his offense or defense, but Kikuchi created his own problems, throwing only 49 of 84 pitches for strikes before exiting his Toronto debut. Control issues are nothing new for the 30-year-old since he came to MLB, but he'll look to tighten things up in his next outing, scheduled for Sunday at home against the A's.

Garcia received a no-decision in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Arizona, allowing two hits and two walks with one strikeout in four innings.

Garcia was cruising against a weak Diamondbacks lineup, but manager Dusty Baker opted to play it safe with the young righty and remove him before facing the lineup for a third time. After 173 combined innings last season, the 25-year-old's workload could be limited early, leading to more short starts, though he should be a producer in the strikeout department as he averaged more than one per inning in 2021. He's slated to toe the rubber against the Angels on Monday for his next start.